SACRAMENTO, CALIF.- The Crocker Art Museum Co-Trustees announced the appointment of Agustín Arteaga, Ph.D., as the Museum's new Mort and Marcy Friedman Director & CEO. Arteaga, an internationally recognized leader and visionary, will assume his role on July 1, 2025. Agustín is succeeding Lial Jones, after a twenty-five plus-year tenure that transformed the Crocker Art Museum into a nationally outstanding institution.
Arteaga brings a wealth of experience from his tenure at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), where he has served as the Eugene McDermott Director since 2016. Under his leadership, the DMA saw significant growth in audience engagement, financial sustainability, and collection expansion, with a particular focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. At the DMA, Arteaga introduced innovative programs and educational initiatives designed to welcome new audiences, such as the Bilingual Initiative, a pioneer enterprise in mainstream museums at that time. Additionally, he spearheaded the vision for the DMA’s planned expansion and capital campaign, which launched with an international architecture competition.
His prior roles include directing Museo Nacional de Arte, one of Mexico’s largest and most prominent cultural institutions, and the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico. Dr. Arteaga is the founding director of the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA) in Argentina, where he set the institution’s mission and vision, and oversaw the design and construction of the building; these renowned institutions thrived under his strategic vision.
In addition to his transformative leadership at the DMA, Arteaga has been instrumental in fostering global partnerships and expanding accessibility to museum experiences, positioning the museum nationally and internationally, by developing, curating, and presenting relevant, scholarly exhibitions at DMA and in major museums in the Americas and Europe. During his tenure he expanded digital outreach to engage global audiences and developed a partnership for a new satellite location to better serve underrepresented communities. His emphasis on inclusive curatorial practices led to a significant increase in exhibitions dedicated to women, Latin American, African American, and LGBTQ+ artists, making art on view more representative of diverse cultural narratives.
“The Crocker Art Museum is a cultural cornerstone of the Sacramento region and California,” said Garry Maisel, President of the Crocker Art Museum Association Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to welcome Agustín Arteaga, whose dynamic and visionary leadership and deep commitment to community engagement will propel the Museum into an exciting new chapter and expand the influence of the Crocker nationally and internationally. His impressive record of innovation, inclusivity, and institutional excellence makes him the ideal person to guide the Crocker forward.”
Arteaga has earned global recognition for his forward-thinking approach to museum stewardship, fostering institutional growth, financial stability, and meaningful public engagement. He has been appointed Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters, by the Republic of France in recognition of his significant contributions to the world of arts and culture, and received the prestigious Othli Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Mexican Government for augmenting the appreciation of Mexican culture abroad. He is a Trustee of the Andy Warhol Foundation, former member of the Bizot Group, and an active member of the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) and the European Fine Arts Foundation (TEFAF) Global Advisory Board. His expertise in art history and architecture, with degrees from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City (M.A. and PH.D. in Art History) and the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Mexico City (B.S. in Architecture), combined with his ability to cultivate partnerships with leading museums worldwide, will serve as invaluable assets in strengthening the Crocker’s role as a premier arts institution.
“Art has the power to inspire, educate, and unite communities,” said Agustín Arteaga. “I am honored to join the Crocker Art Museum, a renowned and celebrated historic institution in Sacramento, a forward-thinking city, and the decision-making center of the world’s fifth-largest economy. Building on an extraordinary legacy of excellence, I look forward to working alongside the Board, the dedicated and talented staff, and the City, to expand access to the arts, create transformative experiences for visitors, and celebrate the rich artistic diversity that defines California and beyond.”
Arteaga’s appointment comes at a transformative moment for the Crocker, as it continues to expand its reach and impact through groundbreaking exhibitions, educational initiatives, and community partnerships. His leadership is expected to build upon the Museum's longstanding mission of enriching the cultural fabric of the Sacramento region and beyond.
